With respect to food, there are many reasons to choose organic as often as possible, from your health to the health of the workers who pick the crops and the health of the planet.
Unfortunately, organic goods usually come with a higher price tag, so most people need to make choices as to what are the more important items to buy organic. Here’s my own organic buying guide to help you get the most (or fewest pesticides) for your dollar.
Butter. Many toxins, including pesticides, are fat-soluble and tend to concentrate in the fat of animals and humans. Since butter is 100 percent fat, it is not surprising that nonorganic butter can contain up to twenty times as many pesticides as nonorganic vegetables do.
Meat and Poultry. According to Elson Haas in his book Staying Healthy with Nutrition, [conventionally raised] meat is among the most contaminated products in our food supply. The animals are raised under inhumane and unsanitary feedlot conditions and result in very unhealthy animals treated with antibiotics, steroids, and hormones. Organic meat is free of these things; in addition, organic meat indicates animals that have been fed pesticide-free food. To locate organic beef or poultry in your area, visit organicconsumers.org or your local farmers’ market.
Dairy Products. In general, I’m not a big fan of pasteurized milk, but I realize not everyone has access to or is comfortable with the idea of raw dairy, so if you do choose to consume dairy, please buy organic and preferably nonhomogenized. Conventional milk can contain high levels of antibiotics and hormones, as well as pesticides. Many pediatricians are concerned that these hormones could initiate early puberty, given how much milk kids drink on a daily basis.
Produce—The “Dirty Dozen.” According to the Environmental Working Group (EWG), the top ten conventionally grown fruits and veggies with the highest pesticide load are:
Apples
Peaches
Nectarines
Strawberries
Grapes
Celery
Spinach
Sweet bell peppers
Cucumbers
Cherry tomatoes
Snap peas
Potatoes
Just buying the organic versions of these fruits and vegetables will reduce your exposure by up to 90 percent.
Corn, Soybeans, Canola. Along with cotton, these are the largest genetically modified crops in America. A genetically modified organism, or GMO, is a food that has been spliced with the genes of another organism, such as a tomato with a fish gene. There is plenty of controversy as to whether GMO foods are safe, especially since their effects haven’t been studied over a long period of time. My gut tells me to stick with foods that are natural, whose DNA hasn’t been tinkered with, so I try to avoid GMO foods like the plague. Corn, soybeans, and canola labeled “organic” is supposed to mean that they are not only grown without pesticides, but have also not been genetically modified.
New on the GMO scene are alfalfa, papaya, sugar beets, tomatoes, and zucchini. So, if you are trying to avoid GMOs, you must look for certified organic versions of these foods, too.
Peanut Products. Peanuts have a tendency to grow a toxic mold called aflatoxin, so they are very heavily sprayed. According to the Pesticide Action Network, peanuts rank among the top ten foods contaminated with persistent organic pollutants. The good news is that you can find organic, GMO-free peanut products, including peanut butter, pretty easily.
Baby Food. Babies and children eat more for their body weight than adults do and their body can’t process as many toxins as an adult body can. Their immune and nervous systems are more vulnerable, so I wouldn’t think twice about buying organic baby food. You can easily make your own organic baby food or choose from many high-quality brands.
Foods That You Consume Regularly. This is important for minimizing your overall exposure to chemicals. For example, if you consume olive oil, oats, rice, and eggs most days of the week, then those would be good to buy organic.
The Clean 15. It’s not all gloom and doom. The Environmental Working Group has also published a list of “The Clean 15,” which are lower-pesticide foods and therefore okay to buy conventionally grown.
Avocados
Pineapple
Cabbage
Sweet peas
Onions
Asparagus
Mangoes
Papayas
Kiwis
Eggplant
Grapefruit
Cantaloupe
Cauliflower
Sweet potatoes
Mushrooms